Indonesian President SBY on Washington trip
The President of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is in Washington visiting the Bush Administration. After being elected on October 20, 2004, he has impressed me that at least he is sticking to his guns. After he was elected he summoned all the governors (Indonesia has 27 propinsi, or provinces, each with a governor. Bali is one propinsi) and told them corruption would not be tolerated, people found guilty would be jailed. He has been consistent with that and started out by jailing the governor of Aceh.
I used to refer to SBY as Susilo Boom Boom, until Ika pointed out that Boom Boom means having sex. A former general, he is known to be a conservative and I think he will be god for Indonesia. With 17,000 islands, 180 ethnic groups, many religions, tribal, and geographical rivalries, Indonesia is not an easy place to govern, let alone make successful economically. Anyone who reads the Jakarta Post on as regular basis will be aware of the massive amount of public money that gets lost every year. SBY is leading by example and that is what Indonesia needs.
SBY also a firm hand at the helm in regard to JI (Jemaah Islamiyah), the regional terrorist group. He is not going to let those guys run riot and label the country as a terrorist hotbed. His visit to the US shows he is pragmatic and sees good relationships with countries that can help Indonesia, as essential. All this is a huge departure from Megawati, who really did nothing much all.
I would like to meet President SBY sometime and put some questions to him directly.
By Nick | Permalink
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Comments
Barrie,
Hows things?
If they find nothing on you, do you get to walk or pay a fine! hee hee!?
Hi Tracey,
I think it’s a crazy idea because in the report I saw, the machine is not fool-proof and is in the end, up to the operator of the machine whether or not the person going through the machine looks suss.
Yeah, I’m doing alright but flat-out writing. I can’t seem to find the time to sit down a read a book!. Looking forward to getting back to Bali and of course meeting you and the family!
I am exhausted morning noon & night… I guess Ika is the same, but working a8+hour a day job & having lot’s on at the moment at work & then having to plan a file for training someone for my job in the next few weeks is really draining me!
I cannot wait to land in Bali & know that I am able to finally relax without worries fror a couple weeks… The kids will enjoy being spoilt in the village & I am sure Dede will have fun catching up with all his buddies & family too!
It sure is hectic here!
Ok talk soon!
G’Day Nick,
Just on a different note. Last night on the news they showed the new ‘drug detector’ radar thingie that all incoming passengers to Bali must go through at Denpasar airport. Aparrently it’s very sensitive!. Too sensitive in fact because if you brush up against someone that has ‘traces’ of heroin or another drug on their clothing and it gts onto your clothing, then whammo, the machine goes off.
Scenario: Perth International Airport departure lounge. Drug user sits in one of the various seats there. He gets up and you come along and sit in the seat. Particles of the drug he was using are transferred to your clothing.
You get to DPS and go through this scanner and the alarms go off but you are not a drug user. Next thing you know, you are being interrogated and your bags searched!.
Interesting!.